description: <p style="text-align: justify;">LOCALITY: La Rioja Mine, Sorio Province, Spain
<br /><br />2 3/4" long
<br /><br />This is a fine group of cubic pyrite crystals. Pyrite is iron sulfide. It is a common mineral species that occurs in mines all over the world. Pyrite crystals can take many different shapes but there is no doubt that Spain has produced the finest cubic pyrite crystals in existence. Spanish pyrite crystals grow in marl. Marl is soft so allows unimpeded growth of perfect cubic crystals of pyrite.
<br /><br />The Spanish pyrite crystal cluster illustrated is a superb example of a La Rioja Mine pyrite. All of the faces of the pyrite crystals are mirror bright. All but one of the crystals on this piece is in perfect condition. One of the crystals has some damage around one of the corners. This piece is in very good condition when one considers the number of crystals that comprise it.</p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">This piece was bought from Ted Scholz of Stone Hut, South Australia (state) in mid 2013. </p>
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<p style="text-align: justify;">Photo by Matthew Webb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia </p>